Share the road project examples

Information on successful national and international projects.

Speed stopping distance events

Christchurch

Intent

The campaign was designed to demonstrate the greater stopping distance that is required at 60 km/h compared with 50 km/h, and to encourage people to reduce speed, especially around pedestrians.

Audience

Motorists, parents and school students

Approach

Prior to the demonstration, schools were contacted, flyers were distributed and advertisements were placed around the neighbourhood (including schools) informing people of the road closure required for the demonstration. A traffic management plan involving council was required to organise the road closure.

• The event was compered by a radio DJ who provided facts on speed and stopping distances, and discussed speed issues.
• A competition was run to guess the stopping distance of the car in the demonstration. Prizes were donated by the council and the ambulance service.
• Cardboard figures were placed at a measured distance from where the car started. The car was driven by a driving instructor travelling with a policeman. In the first run, the car braked at 50 km/h and stopped before reaching the figures. In the second run, the car braked at 60 km/h and hit the figures (blood bags on the figures burst).
• In addition, a mock crash was set up around a power pole and the fire service arrived to cut out the victim (students took part as victims), then ambulance staff took the crash victims away while the compere described the scene.
• The school held a sausage sizzle at the same time to raise funds for the school.
• The demonstration was held at four schools with approximately 600 people attending each one.
• Radio and print advertisements were used.
• Bus back advertisements were used at the same time as the stopping distance demonstrations were held.
• Apart from the school community, the demonstrations were attended by people from the local neighbourhood who had seen the road closure notices.

Evaluation

The number of requests from schools and community for more demonstrations.

• The number of times the campaign was used in other areas.
• The number of times the campaign was repeated (three years).

Reference

Annual Road Safety Report 2003–2004. Christchurch Road Safety Coordinating Committee. Christchurch City Council, 2004.

Contact details

Susan Cambridge
Christchurch Road Safety Coordinator
P O Box 30-064, Christchurch

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Last updated: 22 February 2007